Yamaha TMAX 500 Review

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Yamaha TMAX 500
4.1 stars
Average rating for this product is: 4.1 out of 5

From 21 ratings and 28 reviews

Thumb up 86% of users recommend this product

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guest111's Review of Yamaha TMAX 500 Scooter

15th Sep 2008

Overall Rating

5 stars
  • Value for money
    4.5 stars
  • Length of ownership
    2 weeks
  • Reliability
    5 stars
  • Year Manufactured
    2009
  • Build quality
    5 stars
Good Points

power, power, and more power! Solid, flickable, handles and brakes extremely well


Bad Points

No lockable glovebox, immobiliser (for the US market), no flash-to-pass or hazards.


General Comments

I ' ve wanted a Yamaha Tmax for about 8 yrs now, when Yamaha first introduced them to the European market. Unfortunately, it wasn ' t available when I bought my last scooter- a 2003 Burgman 400. I never gave up hope that eventually they ' d stop depriving us... and earlier this year I found out I was right!

This is definitely a scooter with racing genes. It ' s purpose-built to be a "Sport scooter" and it doesn ' t disappoint. Compared to the Burgman, it sits a bit taller, rides a bit firmer, and is a LOT more nimble. Not that the Burgman 400 is a slug, by any means. I used to ride the B400 WFO on the freeway in the carpool lane. That means a comfortable 90mph or so. The Tmax? I haven ' t been able to use full throttle very often, or for very long.

The 2 cylinder, 500cc engine is extremely smooth and quiet compared to the 400cc 1 cylinder of the Burgman 400. Gas it from a start, and it takes off VERY quickly. The big surprise is when you hit about 35mph and the engine note turns to a low growl and things in the rearview mirrors start to shrink.

Storage is adequate, but the trunk is smaller and there are only 2 cubbies, no glove box. Gas mileage is probably about on par with the B400 when flogged, but it requires 91 octane. Again, these two tradeoffs are no big deal for the extra performance.

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